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CITY

Elizabeth City

North Carolina · 19,622 residents (2025 est.) · 11.706 sq mi
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The short version

Elizabeth City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,141. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $187,700. Households here earn about 28% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,871
+10%since 2000
from 17,188 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,612 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 1,468 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.5
+11%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,622 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K17K18K20K1990201020202024Elizabeth City
202419K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,141
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,193 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,560
+122%since 2000
from $13,333 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.7%
+18.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.3%
−13.9 ptssince 2000
from 27.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.452
−2%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$187,700
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,117
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $473 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
44.1%
−5.5 ptssince 2000
from 49.6% in 2000
55.9% rent
Vacancy rate
12.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.6%
−14.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+25%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Elizabeth City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic39.6%(6,813)
Black56.4%(9,692)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(258)
Asian0.8%(135)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.5%(10,918)
2024
White, non-Hispanic42.1%(7,939)
Black45.5%(8,591)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(1,332)
Asian1%(198)
Other4.3%(811)
Diversity Score76.1%(14,361)
Diversity Score
76
+20%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.2%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.3%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.4 min
+51%since 2000
from 17.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.1%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.5%
+10.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.9%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−11.5 ptssince 2011
from 18.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 62.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.8%
−32.3 ptssince 2009
from 65.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
56.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.8%
−36.1 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2012
from 16.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.0%
−63.0 ptssince 2013
from 76.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+26.4 ptssince 2017
from 63.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 93.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 5.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

Elizabeth City, North Carolina has about 18,871 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

The typical household in Elizabeth City, North Carolina earns about $52,141 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Elizabeth City, North Carolina expensive?

In Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $187,700, and the typical rent is about $1,117 a month.

How educated are people in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

About 27.2% of adults age 25 and over in Elizabeth City, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

About 13.3% of people in Elizabeth City, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Elizabeth City, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Elizabeth City, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,592 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →